Actelion to progress psoriasis therapy to phase III trials

Actelion has announced that it will launch phase III trials of its new compound ponesimod to evaluate its benefits as a therapy for psoriasis patients.

The selective S1P1 modulator has shown significant benefits, measured in terms of the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, during a double-blind placebo-controlled mid-stage study involving 326 patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis.

Information from this large phase II trial will be used to help design the pivotal phase III study programme, details of which will be presented to health authorities once a full data analysis has been concluded.

The company believes ponesimod has the potential to become an important treatment option in immune-mediated disorders, in addition to multiple sclerosis.

Dr Jean-Paul Clozel, chief executive officer of Actelion, said: "Actelion will rapidly move forward with the preparation of the pivotal programme and discussions with health authorities for the psoriasis indication."

Last month, the company submitted a marketing authorisation application to the European Medicines Agency for the use of Opsumit as a treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension.